Press Release
February 3, 2007

ANGARA URGES TOURISM INDUSTRY:
HELP PROMOTE HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, AND AGRI SPOTS

Senator Edgardo J. Angara on Wednesday called on the tourism industry to promote and give equal importance to the countrys historical, cultural and agricultural landmarks as potential tourism spots.

The Philippines is an exceptionally beautiful country. We have it all: Culture, history, and natural beauty. In my opinion, we have not yet developed all of these assets. We only highlight our natural beauty, Angara said.

Angara said that there is more to the Philippines than the sea and the sun. He asked the tourism industry to look beyond the physical and take pride in our rich and colorful history and culture.

Let us promote our country, not simply on the basis of Boracay, he said.

Angara said the Philippines boasts of excellent architectures that have withstood the test of time. Examples of these, he said, are the colonial, baroque churches in Ilocos, in Cagayan Valley, and in Bohol. He also enumerated of the some of the countrys undeveloped treasures such as a virtual Intramuros in Norther Palawan, and a beach paradise in Aurora.

Angara also stressed the need to develop farm-based tourism spots. He said that cultivating the agricultural landscapes as tourist spots is crucial, not only in preserving the countrys natural beauty, but also in developing the countryside.

By encouraging our own people to visit the different farming communities, say, coconut plantation or banana plantation or pineapple plantation, we also help promote the development of our rural communities. That is the best way to develop these areas, and at the same time, encourage our farmers to stay in the farm, he said.

I think this a good lesson for us, if we want to preserve the natural beauty of our country. Let us also show the world that we are not only a country of natural beauty, but also are a people of culture and of long history, Angara said.

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